Like anything else, pressure can be good or bad. (Image via Flickr)

The air conditioner in my van has been hit or miss ever since it started getting warm outside. I think I noticed it even before then when my windshield wasn’t de-fogging on those cold rainy days at the beginning of spring. I bought some coolant yesterday, thinking that it might be low, but I was surprised to see too much pressure in the system when I attached the pressure gauge.

With the pressure so high, the compressor would not stay on for more than a second or two, so I let about 60 PSI out of the system. Once I dd that, the air conditioner started blowing ice-cold air again. I got to thinking about how that relates to us as people.

“Works well under pressure.” I’m sure that is something that many employers look for in prospective employees. Some people say they do their best work when under pressure. Other people just shut down and can’t accomplish anything when pressure builds up. I think that even the people who work best under pressure have a breaking point though.

The right amount of pressure is a good thing. Pressure can keep us focused and productive. Pressure can drive up the quality of our work. Pressure can even keep our perspectives in check.

Too little pressure is a breeding ground for complacency and procrastination. Too little pressure can lead to a lack of focus and increased distractions. While a lack of pressure may allow for more creativity, that creativity might not find direction without a little bit of pressure.

To much pressure can stop production altogether. take a crowd of people for example. If they are bunched tightly in a small space, it is hard to move around. If you give that crowd a task in that situation, it is likely going to take a long time  or not get accomplished at all. If you reduce the amount of people, or give them more space, they can move around more freely and accomplish a lot more. Too much pressure can quickly bring someone to their breaking point.

The right amount of pressure is different for everyone. If you are in a position of leadership, it is important to understand how your workers respond to different amounts of pressure.